The book itself is split up into 2 parts. The first part, Ten Archetypes of Authentic Masculinity, covers the 10 metaphors alluded to in the book’s title. As I read this part of the book I will be making a posts related to each metaphor. These posts won’t be reviews of the chapters as much as they will be my own personal visions and conclusions gained from reading the metaphors. At this time I have already read the sections on the first 5 metaphors so I may relate to some of the other metaphors. This is expected, as these metaphors of masculinity are strongly linked.

Father Sky: The Cosmos Lives!

Father Sky is the partner of Mother Earth. Religions have often placed the sky ( or heavens ) as the home to the gods. Father sky is the air we breathe and the vacuum of space that is the universe beyond our planet’s atmosphere. Father sky is an obvious, but in modern times elusive, spiritual metaphor.

This first chapter didn’t call to me as much from just reading it. There was one suggested made in the chapter that I took, and that was to take a look at the Worldwide Telescope by Microsoft Research. This website has an tool ( both online and downloadable ) that combines images and data from telescopes around the world to give you an amazing view of space. I spent a good chunk of time just looking around at all the different heavenly bodies available to me through this tool.

After using the worldwide telescope, I had a greater connection to father sky in the rest of my daily lives. I recently started a running program, called Couch to 5K (C25K) out of both a desire to run and have a greater connection the The Green Man ( the 2nd metaphor ). On my first run, I got connected more with my green man but I feel that I could finally see father sky. I run in the mornings and the moon was still in the sky. Instead of running with my head down, my head was up and I was aware of all the trees which reach up to connect the earth to the sky and the birds as they soar. As I type this, I think I will pay more attention to my breathing while running as well. After all, father sky represents all that is in the sky including the air.

This chapter also reminded me of something I remember seeing in the past. I remember that a native tribe in Washington had been given the right to punish a teen through their own traditions. This meant putting him, alone, on a small island for a length of time. One of the elders was talking to him about praying. He told him not to bow down and avert his eyes from the spirits above, instead he should look up and open his arms to father sky so that he may be connected to him.

The first metaphor, by itself did not make as big of an impression on me as some of the others already have. However, in connecting with father sky I have gained connections that I have not had in a long time. I once again look at the sky with awe. The stars and the planets, the clouds and wind are all a part of me again. In a world that tries to keep us grounded it is important to stay connected with the stars.

The next metaphor is The Green Man. As I have already read that chapter I will be writing that one soon. Until then, what does father sky mean to you and/or the men in your life?